A Comprehensive Review of the Current Research Status of Biodegradable Zinc Alloys and Composites for Biomedical Applications

Abstract

Zinc (Zn)-based biodegradable materials show moderate degradation rates in comparison with other biodegradable materials (Fe and Mg). Biocompatibility and non-toxicity also make them a viable option for implant applications. Furthermore, Pure Zn has poor mechanical behavior, with a tensile strength of around 100–150 MPa and an elongation of 0.3–2%, which is far from reaching the strength required as an orthopedic implant material (tensile strength is more than 300 MPa, elongation more than 15%). Alloy and composite fabrication have proven to be excellent ways to improve the mechanical performance of Zn. Therefore, their alloys and composites have emerged as an innovative category of biodegradable materials. This paper summarizes the most important recent research results on the mechanical and biological characteristics of biodegradable Zn-based implants for orthopedic applications and the most commonly added components in Zn alloys and composites.

The Effectiveness Mechanisms of Carbon Nanotubes (CNTs) as Reinforcements for Magnesium-Based Composites for Biomedical Applications: A Review

“…The urbanization of human societies and lifestyle changes lead to an increase in accidents and unexpected events, and on the other hand, unhealthy diets and the phenomenon of population aging in advanced societies increase the risk of osteoporosis; therefore, the rate of bone fractures is increasing in communities [1,2]. Metals have long been used as implant materials in the medical field [3,4].…”

Mechanical Properties and Corrosion Rate of ZnAg3 as a Novel Bioabsorbable Material for Osteosynthesis

“…Zinc alloys provide distinguished biocompatibility and meet the requested mechanical parameters, which is why they came to the attention of researchers [18][19][20][21][22][23]. Zinc is one of the trace elements of the human body and is involved in many vital processes [24].…”

Biodegradable PMMA coated Zn–Mg alloy with bimodal grain structure for orthopedic applications - A promising alternative

“…Zinc, classified as a micromineral following Mg [ 4 ], displays a moderate degradation rate and no potentially hazardous reaction by-products [ 3 ]. In its pure form, Zn presents inadequate mechanical properties (ultimate tensile strength (UTS) ≅ 100–150 MPa and elongation to failure (E f ) ≅ 0.3–2 %), which fall short of meeting the requirements for an orthopedic implant application (UTS ≥300 MPa and E f ≥ 15 %) [ 5 , 6 ]. Zn alloy with minimal amounts of Mg is believed to fulfill the need to balance the nutritional benefits of Mg and the practical considerations of material performance [ 6 ].…”